No hay mejor sentimiento que el de la semana de kickoff, le damos vuelta a la página para empezar a escribir la historia del 2023 desde cero y eso siempre es motivante. El primer partido de la temporada recibimos en el Acrisure Stadium a los San Francisco 49ers y pinta para ser un partidazo para arrancar esta aventura.
Mike Tomlin, nuestro head coach, habló hoy en conferencia de prensa como suele hacerlo antes de cada enfrentamiento y comentó, "me siento muy cómodo con el estatus del equipo, el crecimiento y desarrollo que hemos tenido en las tres caras del roster es sobresaliente."
Durante la conferencia también se habló de nuestro próximo rival, Coach Tomlin destacó las virtudes de Christian McCaffrey en la ofensiva de los 49ers, "Tenemos que respetar la habilidad y elusividad de Christian McCaffrey, en el juego terrestre y por pase, es evidente la mejoría que les trajo su llegada. Debemos tener mucho cuidado con él", remató.
No hay duda de que será una prueba muy dura para la defensiva de los Steelers detener todo el arsenal ofensivo del equipo de la bahía, pero también son los rivales complicados los que elevan el juego de todos y ayudan al desarrollo y ritmo de la unidad más adelante en la temporada.
Hablemos un poco más de la ofensiva de los Steelers. Una de las preguntas que estaba en el aire era sobre quién iba a iniciar como tackle izquierdo, bueno pues ya sabemos que Dan Moore Jr. se llevó la batalla contra el novato de primera ronda Broderick Jones, ambos jugaron muy bien durante la pretemporada y como dijo Mike Tomlin es que le gusta mucho tener a dos jugadores tan buenos disponibles en una posición tan importante.
Sobre la defensiva que vamos a enfrentar el domingo de la semana 1 hay varias cosas que analizar, Najee Harris y compañía tendrán una prueba dura en el juego terrestre y Kenny Pickett junto al cuerpo de receptores tendrá que ser muy cuidadoso y cumplir con el mantra básico del juego "proteger el balón".
Antes de cerrar solamente comentar que el equipo ya eligió a sus capitanes.
Mike Tomlin comentó al respecto, "me encanta la hermandad del equipo y el liderazgo de los capitanes seleccionados ayer. El que Kenny haya sido seleccionado habla de su crecimiento y la confianza que tienen todos en él, estoy muy emocionado."
Los Steelers llegan a este juego tras una pretemporada invicta en la que el equipo lució muy bien en general, los titulares se veían con mucho ritmo, tranquilos, sin cometer muchos errores y la profundidad del roster también se vio lista para trabajar cuando fueran requeridos.
Recuerden que este partido lo pueden disfrutar por nuestra estación de radio aquí en el sitio y por televisión si viven en México por Fox Sports a las once de la mañana.
Here we go!
The Steelers prepare for the Week 1 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers

Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Patrick Peterson (20) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 1 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers Monday, Sept. 4, 2023 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)

Pittsburgh Steelers tight end/fullback Connor Heyward (83) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 1 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers Monday, Sept. 4, 2023 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)

Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt (90) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 1 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers Monday, Sept. 4, 2023 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)

Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Desmond King II (25) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 1 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers Monday, Sept. 4, 2023 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)

Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Desmond King II (25) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 1 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers Monday, Sept. 4, 2023 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett (8) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 1 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers Monday, Sept. 4, 2023 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens (14) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 1 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers Monday, Sept. 4, 2023 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris (22), Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Calvin Austin III (19), and Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Miles Boykin (13) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 1 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers Monday, Sept. 4, 2023 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson (18) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 1 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers Monday, Sept. 4, 2023 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)

Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Darnell Washington (80) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 1 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers Monday, Sept. 4, 2023 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris (22) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 1 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers Monday, Sept. 4, 2023 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)

Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Patrick Peterson (20) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 1 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers Monday, Sept. 4, 2023 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)

Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. (24) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 1 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers Monday, Sept. 4, 2023 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)

Pittsburgh Steelers safety Damontae Kazee (23) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 1 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers Monday, Sept. 4, 2023 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)

Pittsburgh Steelers safety Elijah Riley (37) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 1 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers Monday, Sept. 4, 2023 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 1 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers Monday, Sept. 4, 2023 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 1 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers Monday, Sept. 4, 2023 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens (14) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 1 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers Monday, Sept. 4, 2023 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)

Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Chandon Sullivan (34) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 1 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers Monday, Sept. 4, 2023 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)

Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Alex Highsmith (56) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 1 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers Monday, Sept. 4, 2023 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson (18) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 1 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers Monday, Sept. 4, 2023 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)

Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt (90) and Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Alex Highsmith (56) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 1 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers Monday, Sept. 4, 2023 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)

Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt (90) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 1 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers Monday, Sept. 4, 2023 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)

Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle Dan Moore Jr. (65) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 1 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers Monday, Sept. 4, 2023 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett (8) and Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Darnell Washington (80) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 1 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers Monday, Sept. 4, 2023 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren (30) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 1 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers Monday, Sept. 4, 2023 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris (22), Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Calvin Austin III (19), and Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Miles Boykin (13) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 1 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers Monday, Sept. 4, 2023 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)